Magic Tornedalen with cultural entrepreneur Gunhild Stensmyr
Garden
The Story.
Gunhild and her team will host you for at least two nights at the private Arthotel beside the Torneälven river. Her place is a treasure for art lovers and design enthusiasts alike. Her private art collection includes works by some of the most well-known Swedish artists living today, and the interior design is a perfect blend between contemporary and modern and antique. As soon as you have settled in here you will feel your pace of life change. Tornedalen is an exciting place right on the border between Sweden and Finland with a rich history and a fantastic cultural heritage where Swedish, Finnish, Tornedalian and Sami culture are combined – both in language, business, culture and gastronomy. During your stay, you will get the opportunity to experience parts of this secluded place, to meet and learn from local producers and to taste some of the fantastic ingredients Tornedalen has to offer.
Gunhild wants to show the richness of Nordic and Scandinavian food with its connection to the wild origins. The food is all locally produced. Gunhild´s relatives and friends hunt and fish, they pick mushrooms and berries, the villagers bake bread, pitch honey and your housekeeper Simmi cooks your fresh meals every day. Between the home-made meals we will take you on different wildlife excursions and adventures in the surrounding wilderness. Depending on season and weather Gunhild offers plenty of activities, everything from a river boat trip and hunting to dog sledding. She will offer a guided cultural tour around Torneälv, where you will learn about Tornedalen’s history and lifestyle. Our aim is to bring you really close to the local life, introduce you to the villagers and people who value their local traditions. One thing we can promise you is that the moment you leave you will be craving to return and to create more stories to bring home with you!
The Profile.
Gunhild Stensmyr is a well-known cultural entrepreneur in Sweden. She has been active in the art scene around Sweden for many years and has been praised several times for her work and engagement. She was born and raised in Tornedalen with a bachelor’s degree in Archeology, Ethnology and Art History from Lund University. Her early career started as curator and art gallery manager at Bildmuseet and Norrtälje Konsthall. In 1997 she created her own education and consulting company: NICE – NETWORK IN CULTURE. With a talent for culture and art she has been hired as an expert by the EU, state, regions, and municipalities to perform consulting assignments for different municipalities and county councils. Between 2002 and 2012 Gunhild built and managed Skärets konsthall in Höganäs municipality but the strong roots in Tornedalen made her return to her home village for her current project – the Artvillage that has a hotel and art exhibition space.
Her vision is to transform her village of Vitsaniemi-Risudden to a new cultural hotspot in Sweden. The unique hotel is the first development of the cultural destination, inaugurated in 2013. It consists of a variety of charming accommodations, ranging from sleek rooms and cozy cottages to old forest houses and a luxury villa. The art space “Konsthall Tornedalen” is still in progress. Gunhild loves to share her playground by Torneälv with her guests and showcase the best secrets of Tornedalen. Choose between enjoying magical summer nights with the midnight sun or the spectacular Northern Lights during constant darkness of winter. Gunhild´s hotel is one of the most remarkable hideaways of Northern Sweden, no matter the season.
What does moose or reindeer meat taste like? What did princess Victoria and Prince Daniel do at Gunhild´s hotel? What famous artwork hangs on the walls in the hotel? What dramas are going on inbetween the Swedish and Finnish border region? Where is Gunhild´s secret place in Tornedalen?
Story includes:
- Minimum two nights in a room or house category of your choice
- Welcome drink & Tornedals tapas
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, evening meal, supper
- Introduction to the art collection and property´s background with Gunhild
- Excursion to the Luppioberget, a viewpoint overlooking the “Amazon of Sweden”
- Visit to the lookout tower
- Meet the locals with fika
- Sauna experience
- Local give away gift
- Personal stories to bring home from Gunhild Stensmyr
When?
All the year around
Additional Activities:
dine with the locals, private dinner in a scenic place, outdoor cooking, food workshop, boat trip, nature bath, art & craft workshop, Nordic skiing, hiking, dog sledding, snow mobile, canoeing, ice fishing, river fishing, old time fishing, wildlife hunting, bird hunting, bear watching, reindeer herding, picking berries and mushrooms, guided culture tours, arctic night forest our, midnight sun tour, northern light tour, do it twice new year celebration, Santa Claus excursion
Price Range:
from €€
Privé dinner with Kajsa Bergqvist & Josefin Holmqvist
Garden
The Story.
Kajsa Bergqvist has always had a passion for fine wine and gourmet cooking and Josefin Holmqvist has a wealth of experience from working in the restaurant and bars of Stockholm. With this perfect combination of skills, they will host a magnificent supper experience in their turn-of-the-century villa on an island nearby Lidingö. The evening begins with a wonderful boat journey from Stockholm to Lidingö and upon arrival you will be welcomed by your hosts. Whilst you walk around their beautiful garden savouring champagne and snacks the couple will introduce you to the history of the island. Answering as to why there are so many oaks and no pine trees? Why the island became well-known as the “Opera island”.
Once inside, you will get a private tour around the villa and listen to insider stories about the decadent parties in 40´s when the tenor Conny Söderström and his wife lived here. Conny’s oil portrait still hangs in a place of honour to perfectly connect the past with the present. Your dinner takes place in the spectacular salon in a warm atmosphere, surrounded by lush plants, interior design accessories and vintage furniture. This place looks like it is a feature in Vogue Living magazine. The exclusive 3-5 course menu and selected wines will be served by the hosts themselves and Kajsa and Josefin will entertain you throughout the evening with their personal stories, small happenings and surprises. After coffee and dessert the boat will sail you back to the mainland again. Sign up for this exclusive privé dinner and bring home the insider stories from the charming “Opera island”.
The Profile.
Most will know Kajsa Bergqvist as the Swedish high jumper hero at many international sporting events. She had her international breakthrough at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, where she won the bronze medal. Since then the medals have kept coming with, amongst others, one gold and two bronze medals in the World Championships in Athletics and one gold and one bronze in the European Championships. In 2002 she had her strongest season to date with a total of 14 wins from 17 competitions, and she became European champion and vice world champion. In 2008 she announced that she would retire from high jumping, after being ranked the number one female high jumper in the world. She then found her life entering “a new phase” and the motivation to keep competing was no longer there.
She has a degree in Advertising from Dallas university, she lived in Monaco in her hey-days and works currently as tv presenter for Swedish sport tv channels. Today Kajsa is happily married with Josefin Holmqvist, a woman who works at one of the most famous restaurants in Stockholm. Josefin´s passion is to mix cocktails like the female version of Tom Cruise in “Top Gun”. Together they have created a unique privé dinner concept in Stockholm, where guests dine behind closed doors at their private villa overlooking the beautiful archipelago of Stockholm.
What peculiar things happened when Kajsa purchased the villa? Why did sailors visit the islands frequently in the 18th century? Why did almost every oak disappear on the island? Which drink will Josefin shake like Tom Cruise for you? And what surprise has Kajsa prepared?
Story includes:
- Welcome drink & snacks
- Private home visit with property tour
- 3 to 5 course menu
- Selected wines and beverages
- Coffee and avec
- Lots of insider stories and history about the place
- Personal stories from Kajsa and Josefin
When?
All the year around
Additional Activities:
Boat transfer, Archipelago excursion, Cocktail or Wine workshop
Price Range:
from €€€
Culinary farm life experience with Christer & Eva
Garden
The Story.
When in Rome…, nothing could be more authentic than pulling up to an ancient manor house in a horse drawn carriage what a spectacular first impression of countryside life. Travelling with pure horse power you will pass the fields and hills which make this farm so picturesque. When you arrive at the farmhouse Christer and Eva will give you a warm welcome by serving an antipasti of their best farm products to satisfy your initial hunger. Then Christer will take you on a short walk around the barns, stables and other historical buildings to explain how an ecological farm works today. You will also meet the main protagonists of the farm – the red hill cattle – and get an in-depth explanation on their history. You will see a glimpse of animal farming behind closed doors.
Now laden with more knowledge about the red hill cows you are led into the restaurant´s kitchen. Together with your private chef you will help to prepare dinner and learn more about the local products and cooking methods. Your table will be set in the historical private manor and while the food is served you will listen to stories from the past from your hosts. Be prepared for some surprises and spontaneous activities during the dinner. At an old manor from the 19th century anything can happen. This experience might remind you of the classic television episode of “Dinner for One” but Christer and Eva conduct the dinner with lots of care, authenticity, and passion. They will make sure you won´t leave their estate without having had a exceptional experience – with a unique farming story to bring home.
The Profile.
Christer is an entrepreneurial farmer who is carrying on an eight-hundred-year tradition of breeding cows and cultivating the soil at Magda Manor. After almost two decades as an air force pilot he completed a further education in farming in order to follow his passion for agriculture and nature. He began his new rural life at the farm back in 2011 and his ambition is for sustainable farming, the exceptional care of Red Hill cows and to produce local organic food.
By his side is his life partner Eva, born and raised at Magda Manor, completes the ideology of a family farm. Even though Eva´s mother Monica is the actual owner of the estate, Eva makes sure to maintain the inherited traditions from her grandparents who once purchased the land. Eva used to work as a gardener at Julita Gård but today you will find her somewhere in the farm´s beautiful oak groves, where flowers, fruit trees and a variety of herbs and orchids grow. She also has a passion for antiques and you will find a mix of vintage furniture, home accessories and restored items in her storehouse shop.
Together they run a charming delicatessen shop and cafe and have now added a gourmet restaurant too by converting a former horse stable. Most meals are prepared from their own locally produced Red Hill beef, but you will also find a “catch of the day” from the nearby lake Hjälmaren. The farm restaurant is a tranquil oasis and rural getaway just 2 hours drive from Stockholm.
Discover why this farm is a pioneer in Sweden for organic farming? Hear how crazy it sounds when Christer calls his Red Hill cows in when it is time for dinner? How come Eva is known as the “apple queen”? What are Emil and Arvid doing in the fridge? And why does the singer Plura always return to stay at Magda?
Story includes:
- Welcome drink & local snacks
- Horse carriage
- Tour around the estate
- Meet the Red hill cattle
- Food workshop in the restaurant
- 3 course menu in a private manor
- Personal stories to bring home
When?
All the year around
Additional Activities:
Fishing, bird watching, digger drive, squad drive, boat trip, historical highlight tour in the area, rental of timbered historical cottage, farming workshop (be a farmer for a day), helicopter trip
Price Range:
from €€